Mailman 3 August 2006 - Edu-sig

PataPata 0.2.04 released (Smalltalk parser; unified worlds)
by Paul D. Fernhout Aug. 20, 2006

Aug. 20, 2006

I've released version 0.2.04 of PataPata on SourceForge: http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=165910 Big changes: * DandelionGarden, ExampleWorld, and WorldInspector now all use identical code file for TK and Swing. This is a big milestone, as even if the results don't always look 100% the same, being able to have an identical source file could be the basis for making a HyperCard-like format for PataPata to do simple stacks that work with both Python and Jython. There remains work to be done on unifying the support files, but that is hidden to the user worlds. The xturtle example is in a separate TK-specific world file now. WX and GLUT still use their own world files. * Added Pointrel version with Smalltalk-like parser (in Pointrel directory, not integrated into GUI yet, but included wx version). This is based mostly on work I did about two years ago, but which I never released before. The Pointrel Smalltalk-like parser work may be of interest for a few reasons: 1. It shows Python (the language plus libraries) being a universal VM for other languages. (Yes, performance is a potential issue, etc.) 2. The Pointrel data storage format used makes explicit a lot of implicit things in data storage for programs, and so might be of interest for people learning how program compiling and evaluation can be represented abstractly (using Python). 3. It might someday support blending Python and Smalltalk/Self syntaxes for prototype development under PataPata. Anyway, it's an experiment more than anything else. It does not use bytecodes to represent compiled programs, instead it uses "triads". MethodContext objects should work; BlockContext objects are probably broken in this variation (though BlockContext objects should work in the older 20041201 code). From the Pointrel subdirectory README.txt file: ===== Work in progress toward support Smalltalk syntax (for prototypes) on Python using triadal data storage. File pointrel20041201.py is a standalone program which offers a smalltalk-like development environment (with a browser, inspector, debugger, and workspace) Python under wxWidgets using a Pointrel triadal approach. This is the most complete. It can read and write the image.p file. From the first window you can open others. File smalltalkToPython.py is a first cut at translating Smalltalk to Python (not finished). This just prints out an attempt at Python code to the console. It is mostly the same code as pointrel20041201.py without the GUI and with a different code generator. File protos20060808.py calls pointrel20060808.py and other pointrel*.py files to parse a Smalltalk-like syntax with a different pointrel and VM approach (intended to be simpler and clearer than 20041201 version). Essentially, this is mostly the same code as pointrel20041201.py but broken up into separate files and with changes to the VM instruction evaluation (and triadal storage approach) and with the wx GUI removed. It prints out: """ Welcome to Protos ('String', 'The result of adding 10 and 20 is:') ('Integer', '30') halting """ As minor as that output is, it accomplishes the addition using a message send and a stack of two [MethodContext] objects. Usage: python pointrel20041201.py python smalltalkToPython.py python protos20060808.py python pointrel20060808.py (makes and reads test.im, and prints test output) ============ --Paul Fernhout

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where can I find xturtle?
by Michel Paul Aug. 18, 2006

Aug. 18, 2006

It was recommended that I take a look at xturtle. I've tried: http://ada.rg16.asn-wien.ac.at/~python/xturtle but for some reason keep getting "object not found". I have found many discussions about xturtle, but I can't find another route to the actual code. Thanks very much, Michel Paul

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Request advice/opinions on translations for Crunchy
by Andre Roberge Aug. 17, 2006

Aug. 17, 2006

Hi everyone, This message may not be of huge interest to people who don't need to use languages other than English. I've started the French translation for Crunchy. There are four types of translations that need to be done: 1. Navigation menu within Crunchy. [Done] 2. Actual documentation and tutorials. [Not done except for the intro html page - will not be done for a *long* time, at least not by me.] 3. "messages" to the user. For example, we've simplified the Python tracebacks so that the message is more user-friendly. Also "button labels" are going to be translated. This is the main part I am working on to translate. 4. [and this is what I'm mostly asking about] Graphics commands, for example circle() or set_line_color() or set_line_colour() [we support both syntax ;-)]. The strings are ready to be translated [i.e. replace circle() by cercle(), or set_line_color() by couleur_de_ligne()] but, since the documentation (and tutorials) are likely to be only in English, I'm wondering about the wisdom of translating them. Any idea? André

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20,000 Indiana students are now Linux-enabled
by Daniel Ajoy Aug. 17, 2006

Aug. 17, 2006

20,000 Indiana students are now Linux-enabled http://www.crn.com/sections/breakingnews/breakingnews.jhtml?articleId=19220… Daniel

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Python as first language - yet another paper
by Radenski, Atanas Aug. 17, 2006

Aug. 17, 2006

For those of you who might be interested, I have posted a recent paper on the use of Python as a first language. The paper is entitled: "Python First": A Lab-Based Digital Introduction to Computer Science http://www1.chapman.edu/~radenski/research/abstracts/python-iticse06.htm l http://www1.chapman.edu/~radenski/research/papers/python-iticse06.pdf I presented the above paper at ITiCSE 06, the Eleventh Annual Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education, Bologna, Italy, 26-28 June, 2006. The Conference was sponsored by the ACM Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education. Others have already published successful experiences with Python in CS1-type courses. The original contribution of this work can be found in "Python First", a comprehensive online study pack which includes detailed self-guided lab assignments, among other useful resources. With detailed self-guided labs, students are free to make various choices that best suit their background and goals. The "Python First" pack is published at http://studypack.com. Atanas Radenski mailto:radenski@chapman.edu http://www.chapman.edu/~radenski/ There are wavelengths that people cannot see, there are sounds that people cannot hear, and may be computers have thought that people cannot think -- Richard Hamming

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What was that syntax again?
by kirby urner Aug. 15, 2006

Aug. 15, 2006

Someone (Dethe? Ian?) showed me syntax I'd never seen before around Python dictionary defining, involving an equal sign I thought. Tried searching my gmail, other things. Maybe faster to just ask: what was that syntax again? Kirby

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Crunchy version 0.7 is here!
by Johannes Woolard Aug. 15, 2006

Aug. 15, 2006

Hi Everyone, Version 0.7 of Crunchy has been released. It is available on Sourceforge (http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=169458) Crunchy, the Interactive Python Tutorial Maker, is an application that transforms an ordinary html-based Python tutorial into an interactive session within a web browser. Currently, only Firefox is supported. Crunchy is developed and tested on Windows XP and Ubuntu Dapper Drake, but should work on any suitable windows or UNIX system. Apart from Firefox and Python, Crunchy's only dependency is Elementtree, available from http://effbot.org/zone/element-index.htm. This still applies if you are using Python 2.5 because we use parts of Elementtree that are not included in the Python 2.5 standard library. 0. Name change To prevent confusion with an existing program named CrunchyFrog, "Crunchy Frog" has been renamed as "Crunchy", short for "Crunchy, the Interactive Python Tutorial Maker". 1. *Security fix* The previous versions of Crunchy allowed tutorials containing arbitrary (and hidden) javascript code to be loaded within a browser window. The new version removes any existing javascript code prior to processing for display within a browser. Feel free to try and break this - and please report any findings back to us. 2. New functionality. * It is possible to run external programs from within the browser; sample demos include GUI programs with 1. Tkinter, 2. pyGtk, 3. wxPython, 4. Pygame * Automatic syntax colouring of (static) Python code, including (as an option) line numbering. * New plotting canvas with simple to use api to draw mathematical functions * Drawing & plotting canvas can be set to arbitrary size. * Multiple canvas can now appear on same page. * New addition and simplification to the sound api. * Simplification of error message (tracebacks) more suitable for beginners. 3. New visual design: * Integrated menu which can be styled through custom css * Three sample css styles now included (selectable via the browser menu) 4. New content: * First draft sound tutorial exploring concepts of frequency, beats, harmonics (Fourier series), etc. * New addition to the basic "Crunchy user" tutorial * Additions to all reference documentation (sound & graphics api, vlam options, etc.) Please send bug reports and feedback to André Roberge (andre.roberge(a)gmail.com) and/or Johannes Woolard (johannes.wollard(a)gmail.com). We hope you enjoy it! -- Johannes Woolard, Entz Rep and CompSci, Oriel College, Oxford, UK mobile: 07837880296

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Wizard Schools (have you heard about them?)
by Daniel Ajoy Aug. 14, 2006

Aug. 14, 2006

I'm not sure where I got this from. But it's quite interesting: http://steve-yegge.blogspot.com/2006/07/wizard-school.html Daniel

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re-doing GvR in xturtle
by Scott Chapman Aug. 14, 2006

Aug. 14, 2006

I'm beginning work on moving GvR into xturtle. The main reason I'm doing this is that I want to get over the language limitations that GvR currently has. (No variable assignment, etc.) In other words, I want to be able to teach much more of Python to young people with such an environment. It'll take a while to get this done. I'm new to TK programming. I do web development. If Crunchy had sufficient graphics and sandboxing, I'd probably do it all in Crunchy for web delivery, etc. I'll keep an eye on their progress. If anyone's interested in the results or has commentary, please let me know. Eventually, it would be very nice to have a whole curriculum around such an environment, with teaching materials, quizzes, tests, answer keys, etc. If anyone has already done this, please let me know. I'd rather not reinvent this if I don't have to. Cordially, Scott

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Gasp is ready for testing... (and, a look ahead)
by Jeffrey Elkner Aug. 14, 2006

Aug. 14, 2006

Gasp, the rewrite of the livewires API using pygame, is ready for testing. Please see: http://dc.ubuntu-us.org/projects/gasp for more info and to obtain the source. Thanks to David Muffley (sunami.2600(a)gmail.com) for writing Gasp! jeff elkner

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